Case filling machine



Oct. 20, 1953 A. c. DAVIS 2,656,081

CASE FILLING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

Q //Q1 6 Dav/1s WMQM CZ-ffow-mej Oct. 20, 1953 A. c. DAVIS 2,656,081

CASE FILLING MACHINE I Filed April 13, 1951 v 9 Sheets-Sheet 2INVEN'TOR. CW/an G Dc: ums,

Wihym Oct. 20, 1953 A. c. DAVIS I 2,656,031

CASE FILLING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

Oct. 20, 1953 A. C. DAVIS CASE FILLING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledApril 13, 1951 i: IF I I'l i--- I: 251i... Er.

INVENTOR- .a//cu1 c, Dear/1s 4 BY 2 g L fforney Oct. 20, 1953 A. c.DAVIS 2,656,081

- CASEYFILLING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1951 9- Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.0 2 0* 1.3

lfforngy Oct; 20, 1953 A. c. DAVIS 2,655,081

CASE FILLING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

62m 6: Dal/ZS Oct. 20, 1953 A. c. DAVIS CASE FILLING MACHINE 9Shets-Sheet 7 Filed April 13, 1951 INVENTOR.

D cw c 8 BY C(ffor l- HU Filed April 15, 1951 9 SheetsSheet 8 w. o Y /MB m P/ J i=3:

A. C. DAVIS CASE FILLING MACHINE Oct. 20, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 FiledApril 13, 1951 IINVENTOR. l5 M My. W

. Q1 0 r-rrgy CZ//cz/'7 Cf Dczcr Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STA'IECASE FILLING MACHINE poration of Maryland Application April 13, 1951,Serial No. 220,747

g 20 Claims. 1

of my copending application, Serial No. 19

series of 1948, filed October 26, 1950. More particularly the inventionrelates to improvements in the charge depositing mechanism and in theautomatic control mechanism for the machine.

In the above application there was disclosed as one modification amechanism for releasing articles from the charge depositing carriageinvolving rocking bars which were controlled by an arm fixed to one ofthe bars and a rack to transmit the rocking of the one bar to the otherbars. The speed of release was dependent on the speed of lowering of thearticle depositing mechanism, since the arm was tripped by a plate inthe path of the arm during the lowering of the depositing mechanism.This mechanism operates satisfactorily for light articles when thedepositing carriage is lowered slowly-but it is not so satisfactory forheavier articles since with them there is a tendency for the bars torelease very rapidly with a snap action when the arm is partly rotatedby the plate and for the charge of articles to slam" into the case.

In order to overcome this tendency, there is provided as a feature ofthe present invention a piston and cylinder mounted on the articledepositing mechanism, the rocking of the bars bein ermitted by thegradual exhaustion of the cylinder. There is thus accomplished a releasewhich can be accurately controlled for different weight articles andwhich is independent of the speed of lowering of the depositingmechanism.

To still further accomplish a cushioning effect and gradual lowering ofthe bottles into the case, there disclosed a modification having animproved eXpansib-le inverted frusto-conical rubber tube for cooperationwith special stub spring fingers. This tube is more flexibly mounted andmore sharply pointed than th tube disclosed in the prior copendingapplication and the tube and stub fingers cooperate particularly advantageously with the piston and cylinder control in depositing heavyarticles.

Further features of the present invention are improvements in theindividual pockets, the means for mounting the pocket supporting frameand in the control circuit for the machine.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a left side elevation of a bottle case filling machineconstructed like that in the above- 2 I mentioned copending applicationexcept for the improvements forming the subject matter of the presentinvention.

Figure 2 is a partial fragmentary transverse sectional view at the frontof the machine.

Figure 3 is a partial horizontal sectional view taken below the grid.

Figure 4 is a partial enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating thecharge depositing mechanism or basket in upper charge receivingpositjion, and in dotted lines in lower depositing posiion.

Figure 5 is a partial right side elevation of the basket in lower chargerelease position, almost at th end of downward movement.

Figure 6' is a diagrammatic View illustrating the electric controlcircuit for the machine.

Figure '7 is a partial transverse sectional view at the front of themachine illustrating a modified basket or bottle depositing mechanism.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of a single pocket removed from the basketof Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the mechanism ofFigure '7.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line Ill-l i!of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line ll-H ofFigure 9.

Figure 12 is a partial vertical sectional view taken along the linel2-!2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a partial transverse sectional view partly broken away, ofthe basket of Figure 7.

Figure 14 is a partial sectional view taken along the lines l4--! :3 ofFigure 13.

In the drawings the same numeral refers to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Briefly, referring to Figures 1 and 2, bottles 13, being the articleswith which the machine is described, enter the machine on the right sideat the rear in a single line from a supply or conveyor l. A deliverymember or chain conveyor 2 having nights 3 receives a predeterminednumber of bottles into the compartments between each successive pair offlights in upright position and advances them forwardly over a chargecollecting device comprising a grid 4 and an upper and lower stationaryguide structure 5.

When the desired number of rows of bottles are on the grid to form acharge, longitudinal grid members or rails 6 of the grid are shiftedlaterally to position the bottles to drop through the grid verticallyupon the further movement or" the flight, into a charge receiving deviceor basket 1. The basket or receptacle is then lowered to deposit thebottles into a waiting receiver 3 or case C having partitions P, Figure5, forming cells. The machine illustrated is entirely automatic, havingcontrol devices to initiate and coordinate the various steps in itsoperation.

The bottle feed conveyor I is driven by means of motor 8, Figure 6. Themachine is illustrated as designed for four rows of six bottles in eachrow. As the sixth bottle of each row moves into a row in the chainconveyor 2 from the bottle conveyor I, the first bottle on the leftcontacts a switch arm 9, Figure 6 (upper right), actuating a switch 19to initiate intermittent movements, or steps of the chain conveyor 2.The mechanism for intermittently driving the chain conveyor 2 can beseen in Figure l and comprises a pneumatic cylinder I! and piston l2. Apusher plate 13 which is adapted to engage the flights 3 is advanced bythe piston I2 when pressure is admitted to cylinder II to advance thechain conveyor 2. When the cylinder H is exhausted, springs l4 retractthe piston and pusher plate 13, and the pusher plate engages the nextfollowing flight 3, in readiness for the next advance. The cycle is thenrepeated.

In Figure 2 and in Figure 6 (upper left) is illustrated a switch leverl5 pivotally mounted to the right of the machine at the front of thegrid 4. This lever is rotated by the sixth bottle of the first row asthe chain conveyor 2 advances the fourth row of bottles onto the gridand actuates switch 16, Figure 6, to cause grid rails 6 to be shifted toallow the dropping of a charge of twenty-four bottles into basket 7,upon further movement of conveyor '2.

The basket 1 rides up and down on tracks 17 by means of lower rollers 18mounted at the rear of the basket and rolling on the forward surfaces ofthe tracks and upper rollers H on the rear surfaces of the tracks. Acylinder 28 is mounted on the framework 2! which supports the machine.Piston rod 22 engages bracket 23, Figure 2, which is fastened to theU-shaped roller mounting plate 24 of carriage 24 of the basket 1,

After the charge of bottles is dropped from the grid into the basket,the cylinder is exhausted to lower the basket to position above a case.The conveyor for moving cases into postiion beneath basket i is seen inFigure 3 and comprises a roller conveyor 25 driven by motor 26 (Figure6). A

table comprising the rollers 2'! in the machine I extends rearwardlybeneath the basket 1 further than supply conveyor 25 so as to extend inwidth to discharge rollers 28, offsetting the discharge from the feed.The case enters the machine guided by side rail 29 toward the front ofthe table and strikes case stop abutment plate 3% closing switch 3% toactuate the case positioning mechanism. This case positioning mechanismincludes cylinder 32 and case pusher 33 attached to the piston in thecylinder, and the pusher is moved longitudinally from front to rearacross the table by the piston and cylinder 32. After the case is filledwith a charge of bottles, cylinder 32 is exhausted, case pusher 33 isretracted across the table by springs 34 and the case leaves the machineat the left on the discharge rollers 28, the case temporarily depressinga second case abutment plate 35 to open switch 36 and prevent the casepositioning mechanism from operating until the filled case has clearedthe table.

In the foregoing description, those parts of the case filling machinewhich necessarily cooperate with the improvements of the presentinvention or are necessary to a complete understanding of the presentinvention have been set forth. For a more detailed description of themachine, reference may be had to the aforementioned copendingapplication.

The carriage 24 includes an angle member 31 forming the rear and sidesof the carriage and ledges 38 and 39 on the sides of the member 31 mountthe pocket frame front and rear cross supports 43 extending from left toright across the basket. Intermediate cross supports 41 are fastened tolongitudinal end plates 42 and center plate 43, the end plates in turnbeing carried by the front and rear cross supports to complete thepocket frame. Twenty-four pockets M are mounted between the crosssupports, as illustrated in Figure 3, and are spaced in accordance withthe cells of the case to be filled. The pockets comprise smallrectangular frames, each having outwardly curving bottle guiding ears orflanges 45 on all four sides and right angle pocket supporting lips 46on the front and rear sides of the individual frames, Figure 2. Thepockets are held in the large pocket frame by means of set screws 41 andplates 49 each pressing a set of three pockets suspended betweenadjacent cross supports and against center plate 43. Spring urged pin 50and bolt and nut 51 (Figure 2) hold the assembled pocket frame in thecarriage, the nut of nut and bolt 5| bearing against the front of frontcross support 40 to keep it from sliding forwardly on ledges 38. Toremove the pocket frame, the nut and bolt 5! are removed, the pin 56 isretracted and the assembled pocket frame is pulled out of the carriage,the front and rear cross supports 40 sliding forwardly on ledges 38 and39.

Mounted on the frame of each pocket are left and right inwardly bentsprings-52 and front and rear straight springs 53. The front and rearsprings 53 .are adapted to be bent inwardly as shown in Figure l, 2, 3and 4 by means of rocking bars 54. These bars are cylindrical withlaterally expanded, flattened portions 55 engaging the straight springs53. A cylinder 56 is mounted on the carriage by pin 5'! and bracket 59.The piston 60 is connected to a crosspiece 61 having head Bi thereon.Springs 62 extend between the crosspiece 5| and bracket 59 to retractthe piston. A shaft 63 is carried by head 61 and operates crank 64 whichis fixed to the front rocking bar 54, at the right of the basket. At theleft the other bars 54 are connected for rocking with the front bar bymeans of cranks 65 and connecting arm 66.

The operation of the machine and the improvements in the control circuitof the present invention will now be readily understood.

Power is supplied to the machine by supply conductors 10, H. Conductor His designated with a plus sign and conductor 10 with a minus sign forconvenience in following the operating circuits of the solenoids. Whenthe operating switch 12 is closed, the bottle conveyor motor 8 and thecase conveyor motor 26 are set in motion through conductors 73 and 14.When six bottles have entered the chain conveyor 2 between flights 3 andswitch arm 9 has been actuated to close \switch Hi, the chain conveyorcylinder air inlet valve operating solenoid I5 is operated by thecircuit from plus conductor 14 through conductor l6 (center, Figure 6),manual chain conveyor stop switch 11, chain conveyor air inlet valveoperating solenoid l5, strap I9, conductor 80, switch If! (upper right,Figure 6), conductor 8|, switch I6 (top contacts) to minus conductor l3.Solenoid l5 raises armature 82, raising lever 83 to open valve 84 to airsupply line 5 85. -Airthen enters chain conveyor cylinder H through pipe86 and fiow adjustment valve 81.

The pusher plate I3 is then advanced to step the conveyor and bolt 89carried by plate I3 contacts pin 90 of switch 9I to open the switch atthe end of the step. As soon as flights 3 advance, switch I opens by thepassage of the bottle from arm 9. The holding circuit for solenoid I5,to insure the completion of the step of conveyor 2, extends from strapI9 through switch. 92, which is closed by arm 93 on the raising ofarmature 82, through conductor 94, switch 9|, conductor 95 to the "minusconductor I3. This circuit is broken by the opening of switch 9I andsolenoid I releases, opening the exhaust 95 of valve 84 to exhaustcylinder II to retract the pusher plate, by springs I4.

When the first row of bottles of a complete charge reaches lever I5,Figure 2, at the front of the machine, the lower contacts of switch I6,Figure 6, are closed and the upper ones opened. The grid shiftingsolenoid 9! is then energized from "minus conductor 13, through switchI6, conductor 99, solenoid 91, conductor I00. switch IOI, when closed,conductors I02, I03 to "plus conductor I4. As seen in Figures 2 and 6, apin I04 is bolted to the right side of the carriage 24. When the basketis in upper charge receiving position, this pin contacts roller I05 ofswitch lever I06 mounted on the frame of the machine, to close switchIOI. Thus the grid can only be shifted when the basket is in properupper position, and switch IOI is closed. When the grid 4 has shifted,blade I91 carried by the grid moves between roller I05 and pin I04 tohold switch IOI closed and the grid shifted as long as switch lever I5is contacted by a bottle. When the charge has dropped through the gridand has cleared it properly, switch lever I5 will clear the main body ofthe bottle and rotate to the position shown in Figure 6 to open thelower contacts of Switch I6 to release solenoid 91, so that grid 4.

can return to its charge receiving position. It will be understood thatthe chain conveyor cannot be stepped while the upper contacts of switchI 6 are open.

The above described part of the control circuit is similar to that in mycopending application.

The case positioning cylinder 32' is energized by a case depressingabutment plate 30, Figure 6,

lower right, to close switch 3!. The minus supply conductor I0 thenconnects through conductors I09, H0, switches 36, 3I, conductor III,case pusher solenoid I I2, and conductor I03 to the plus supplyconductor II, operating the solenoid H2. Armature H3 is raised to openvalve H4 to air supply 85 to position a case.

The raising of arm H5 of valve H4 by armature H3 also raisesintermediate link H6 connected to the arm, which in turn closes theupper contacts of switch III (lower left, Figure 6). The basket raisingcylinder solenoid I I9 was being held energized through its holdingcircuit extending from plus supply conductor II through conductor I20,solenoid H9, strap I2I, holding switch I22, conductor I23, the lowercontacts of switch III, conductor I24 and conductor I09 to the minussupply conductor III. This circuit is opened when switch I I1 isoperated by the case positioning solenoid H2 and elevating solenoid H9is deenergized exhausting cylinder through pipe I25, flow adjustmentvalve I26 and exhaust I 21 of valve I29.

At thi point in the operation, the rocking bar cylinder 56 is underpressure by virtue of the energization of solenoid I30 through minus"conductor 13, switch I 3|, conductor I32, solenoid I30, conductors I33and I6 to "plus conductor I4.

Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, the switch I3I it controlled byroller arm I34 acting on plate I35 mounted at the rear of carriage 24 onthe left side. At a predetermined point in the downward travel of thebasket I, the plate I35 disengages from arm I34, and switch I3I isopened. This deenergizes solenoid I30 allowing armature I36 to lower,opening exhaust I3I of valve I39. Cylinder 56 is then exhausted throughflexible hose I40, flow adjustment valve MI and exhaust I31. The speedof release of the charge by the spring fingers 53 may be positivelycontrolled for any weight bottles independently of the speed of descentof the carriage 24 by flow valve MI. The point of descent of thecarriage to initiate the exhaustion of cylinder 56 is controlled by theproper construction of plate I35 and the positioning of switch arm I34.

When the basket has reached its lower position and cylinder 56 issufiiciently exhausted to have permitted the release of the charge intoa case, as in Figure 5, the switch I42, Figure 4, is actuated by thecurved end I43 of connecting arm 66 contacting roller arm I44 of theswitch. This opens the right contacts of switch I42 (center left, Figure6), deenergizing case pusher solenoid H2, to release the filled casefrom the machine by opening the holding circuit through conductor III,strap I45, holding switch I46 and conductor I47. Switch I42 alsooperates the basket raising solenoid through its left contacts,conductor I49 and strap I 2|.

When the basket is raised, arm I34 contacts plate I35 closing switchI3I, and in turn closing the basket fingers to hold another charge.

The modification of Figures 7 through 14 necessitates no changes in thecarriage, large pocket frame, or charge release cylinder and these partsbeing identical to the parts previously described are given the samereference numerals. Reference is made to the description in connectionwith Figures 1 through 6 for an understanding of the operation of theseparts.

The pockets of the embodiment of Figures '7 to 14 have small rectangularframes as previously, but fixed to the four sides of each frame is theelongated top I 50 of the improved expansible rubber tube I5! of thisinvention. The tube is freely suspended from the pocket frame and. ismolded about the modified rocking bars I52 as indicated at I53 topromote the even hanging of the tube Figure 8. Openings I54 in the tubesadmit the spring finger actuating blades I55. Curved stub spring fingersI56 are mounted on the left and right sides of the pocket frames,outside the frames, between the tube and the pocket and stub straightfingers I5! are similarly mounted at the front and rear of the pockets.The lower part of each blade I55, as seen in Figure 9 is slightly longerthan the upper in order to obtain equal inward deflection of the frontand rear straight spring fingers I51.

The inverted frusto-conical expansible portion I59 has a sharply pointedend comprising separate inwardly sloping folded points IIiI, Figures 9and 12. These folded points are continuous with folds I60 when viewedfrom within the tube as shown in Figure 10, but make possible theexpansion of the tube from a very sharp point to the maximumcross-section of the articles to be passed therethrough. This sharplypointed tube has a special advantage in connection with the filling orcollapsible cardboard. cartons oi the type commonly used for carryingsix bottles, where there is more tendency for the bottle re ceivingopenings to: be out of; line. The pointed tube tends to. move theopenings into alignment to receive the charge of bottles and to directthe bottles towardthe openings.

The; special advantage of the present improved tube is its flexibility,being suspended from the very top of the basket. This is important as.-a safeiw feature. In.- the practical operation of the machine, theoperatonwin case of difficulty, may pull the case being filled out ofthe machine and then look for the difficulty. With the flexiblysuspendedtube-, this results in no tearing of the tube: or damaging of thebottles even if the basket has not raised properly.

The stub fingers in this modification are CD11.- trclled. in theirrelease in a manner similar to that of the longer fingers. However,additional cushioning: effiect is now accomplishedby the ex,- pansibletube. The stub fingers of the present embodiment promote perfectcentering of the bottles and release a charge. of bottles uniformly andsurely; as well as gradually, independent of thespeed of lowering'oi thebasket. The gradual release of the bottles into the tubes has a tendencytopromote. better centering of the bottle cardboard cartons andthe likeby the tubes; The present flexibly suspended. sharply pointed. tubesare. not likely to foul. on the partitions of av case or to be: injuredwhen: a case is pulled out before the basket has been properly raised.

Whatisclaimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is;

1. In. an article packing machine for fillin a cellv case with a chargeofarticies. charge cepositing mechanism and means. for delivering acharge to saidmechan-i'snr. said mechanism. comprising a. carriagemovablebetween charge receiving and charge release position, a pluralityof pockets in the carriage to correspond to the cells of a case, means.in each pocket to retain an article therein, said retaining means beingmovable between article retaining and release positions,v means toefiect said movement means for guiding thev movement of said carriagefrom charge receiving to. charge release position, and a piston andcylinder mounted on said carriage and connected to said effecting meansto control the release. of said article retaining means in releasingarticles from said pockets.

2. In an article packing. machine for filling, a

cell case with a charge oi articles, a charge. de-

positing mechanism and means for delivering a charge to said mechanism,said mechanism comprising a carriage movable from upper charge receivingto lower charge release. position, and a plurality of pockets in thecarriage to. correspond to the cells of a case, means, in each pocket toretain an article therein, said retaining means eing movable betweenarticle retaining and re.- lease positions, means to efiect saidmovement and a piston and cylinder carried. by said carriage andconnected to said efi'ecting means to control. the release of. saidarticle retaining means, to release articles from said pockets in lowercarriage position, said piston and cylinder operating said articleretaining means, toset the same. to retain articles in the pockets inthe upper carriage position.

3. In an article pacln'ng machine for filling a cell case. with a charge01 articles, a charge depositing mechanism and means for delivering acharge to said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a. carriage-movablefrom upper charge receiving tolower. charge release: position, and aplurality of pockets in the carriage to correspond to; the cells oi acase, means in each pocket to retain an article therein, said retainingmeans being movable between article retaining and release positions,means to effect said movement and a piston and cylinder carried by saidcarriage and connected to said efiecting means to control the relcaseoisaid article retaining means to. release articles from said pockets inlower carriage position, said piston and cylinder operating said articleretaining means to set the same to retain articles in, the pockets, intheupper carriage. position and means disposed intermediate upper andlower positions. of. said carriage actuated by the movement of saidcarriage to. exhaust the cylinder as the carriage is lowered togradually release said article retaining means.

4. In an article packing machine for filling a cell case with. a. chargeof articles, a charge, depositing. mechanism. and means. for deliveringa charge to said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a carriage,movable from. upper charge receiving. to lower charge release. position,and a plurality oi pockets in the carriage mounted in rows. and columnsto correspond to. the. cells of a. case, movable converging fingersbeneath each. pocket. to retain an. article therein means in. thecarriage to. move the fingers between positions of article release andretention and pneumatic means mounted. on said. carriage and connectedto said moving means to release, said fingers from converging position,to release articles from the pockets. in. lower carriage. position, andto restore the fingers to article retaining position after the releaseof articles from the pockets.

5. In an. article packing machine for filling a cell. case with a chargeof articles, a charge depositing mechanism and. means for delivering acharge to said mechanism, said mechanism comprising a carriage movablefrom upper charge receiving to lower charge release. position,. and aplurality of pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns tocorrespond to. the cells of a. case, fingers beneath each pocket, meansin the carriage to move the fingers between positions of articlerelease. and retention, pneumatic means mounted on said carriage andconnected to said moving means to operate said moving means, to. releasethe. fingers from article retain.- ing position in lower carriageposition and to restore the fingers. to article retaining position afterthey release of articles from the pockets, means. tor raising andlowering said carriage and means. actuated upon. the operation. of thepneumatic means to. restore the fingers to article retaining position toactuate the raising means for the carriage.

6. In an article packing machine for filling. a cell case with. acharge.v of articles, a charge depositing, mechanism and meansv iordelivering a charge to said mechan sm, said mechanism comprising acarriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge releaseposition, and a plurality of pockets in the carriage, to. correspond tothe cells of a case, fingersv beneath each pocket and, havingv anarticlev release position, means to hold said fingers in convergingrelatron to. retain an. article in the pocket and, a, piston andcylinder mounted on said carriage and connected to the holding means tocontrol the release of said holding. means; to: release, the fingersfrom converging relation torelease arti-s cles from said pockets inlowercarriage position, said piston and cylinder operating said holdingmeans to hold the fingers in converging relation to retain articles inthe pockets in the upper carriage position.

7. In an article packing machine for filling a celled container with acharge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriagemovable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, aplurality of pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns tocorrespond to the cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in saidcarriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mountedwith said pockets in the carriage and depending from the pocketsadjacent said bars and having an article release position, means on saidbars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingers into said pocketsto obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein in one position ofsaid bar, and pneumatic means connected to said bar to control therocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructing position.

8. In an article packing machine for filling a celled container with acharge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriagemovable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, aplurality of pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns tocorrespond to the cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in saidcarriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mountedwith said pockets in the carriage and depending from the pocketsadjacent said bars, the fingers having an article release position,means on said bars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingersinto said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein inone position of said bar, and a piston and cylinder mounted with saidcarriage for movement therewith and connecting with said bar to controlthe rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructing position.

9. In an article packing machine for filling a celled container with acharge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriagemovable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, aplurality of pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns tocorrespond to the cells of a container, 3, bar rotatably mounted in saidcarriag and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mountedwith said pockets in the carriage and depending from the pocketsadjacent said bars, the fingers having an article release position,means on said bars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingersinto said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein inone position of said bar, and pneumatic means connected to said bar tocontrol the rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructing position,means for raising and lowering said carriage and means actuated upon therocking of said bar to press the fingers to article obstructing positionto actuate the raising means for said carriage.

10. In an article packing machine for filling a celled container with acharge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriagemovable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, aplurality of pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns tocorrespond to the cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in saidcarriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mountedwith said pockets in the carriage and depending from the pocketsadjacent said bars, the fingers having an article release position,means on said bars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingersinto said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein inone position of said bar, and a piston and cylinder mounted with saidcarriage for movement therewith and connecting with said bar to controlthe rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstruct: ing position, meansfor raising and lowering said carriage and means actuated by the rockingof said bar in releasing the articles to actuate the raising means forsaid carriage,

11. In an article packing machine for filling a celled container with acharge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriagemovable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, aplurality of pockets in the carriage arranged in rows and columns tocorrespond to the cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in saidcarriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mountedwith said pockets in the carriage and depending from the pocketsadjacent said bars, the fingers having an article release position,means on said bars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingersinto said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein inone position of said bar, and pneumatic means connected to said bar tocontrol the rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructing position,means for positioning a container below said carriage and means actuatedby the rocking of said bar in releasing the articles into the containerto release the container positioning means.

12. In an article packing machine for filling a celled container with acharge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising a carriagemovable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, aplurality of pockets in the carriage arranged in rows and columns tocorrespond to the cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in saidcarriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mountedwith said pockets in the carriage and depending from the pocketsadjacent said bars, the fingers having an article release position,means on said bars contacting said fingers and pressing said fingersinto said pockets to obstruct the pockets and hold articles therein inone position of said bar, and a piston and cylinder mounted with saidcarriage for movement therewith and connecting with said bar to controlthe rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructing position, meansfor positioning a container below said carriage and means actuated bythe rocking of said bar in releasing the articles into the container torelease the container positioning means.

13. In an article packing machine having a pneumatic cylinder forraising and lowering a charge depositing mechanism and a pneumaticcylinder for positioning a case in charge receiving position beneath thedepositing mechanism,

and valves to admit pressure to said cylinders,

and electro-magnetic means to operate the valves, and a holding circuitfor the electro-magnetic means operating the charge depositing cylindervalve, the improvement comprising a link connected to theelectro-magnetic means actuating the valve controlling the pressure forsaid case posltioning cylinder, a switch operated by said link in theholding circuit for maintaining the charge depositing cylinder underpressur with the mechanism in raised position, the actuation age-racerll of saidcase positioning cylinder "to "position a case moving thevalve and link to open the holdingcircuit switch to exhaust the chargedepositing cylinder to'lower the charge depositing mechanism to thecase.

14. In an article packing "machine for filling a celled container with acharg of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising "a carriagemovable from upper charge receiving to lower charge release position, aplurality of pockets in the carriage mounted in rows and columns tocorrespond tothe cells of a container, a bar rotatably mounted in saidcarriage and "extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingers mountedwith said pocketsand dependin therefrom adjacent said bars, the "fingershaving an article release position, means on said bars cont cting saidfingers and pressing said fingers into said pockets to obstruct thepockets and hold articles therein in one position of said bar and arubber tube having an elongatedtop suspended from "the top of eachpocket with the fingers Within 'thetube's, and the tubes having anopening therein for admitting the finger contacting means on said bars,said tu'bes having inverted frusto-conical expansible bottoms.

15. 'In an article packing machine 'for "filling a celled container witha charge of articles, a charge depositing mechanism comprising acarriage movable from upper charge receiving to lower charge releaseposition, aplurality ofpockets in the carriage mounted in rows andcolumns to correspondtothe cells of a container, a bar rotatably mountedin said carriage and extending between adjacent pockets, spring fingersmounted with said pockets and depending therefrom adjacent said bars,the fingers having an article release position, means on said barscontacting said fingers and pressing said fingers into said pockets toobstruct "the pockets and hold articles therein in one position or saidbar and arubbertube having an elongated to suspended from the top oi"each pocket with the fingers within the tubes and the tube having anopening therein for admitting the finger contacting means on said bar's,said tubes having inverted frusto-conical expansible bottoms andpneumatic means connected to said bar to control the rocking of the barto and from pocket obstructing position.

16. In an article packing machine, "for "filling a celled container'with.a charge or articles, a charg depositing mechanism comprising acarriage movable "from upper charge receiving 'to lower charge releaseposition, a plurality or pockets in the carriage mounted in rows andcolumns tocorresp'ond to the cells of a container, a bar rotatablmounted in said carriage and extending between adjacent pockets, springfingers mounted with said pockets and depending therefrom adjacent saidbars, the fingers having an article release position, means on said barscontacting-s'aid fingers "and pressingsaid fingers into said pockets toobstruct the pockets and hold articles therein in one position of saidbar and a rubber tube having anelongated top suspended from the top "ofeach pocket with the finger's within the tubes and the tube having anopening therein for admitting the finger contacting means on said "bars,said tubes having inverted movement therewith and connecting with saidbar tocontrol the rocking of the bar to and from pocket obstructingposition.

17. A carriage for a charge of articles, to hold articles and to releasethem therefrom, "partitions in the carriage dividing the carriage into"a pin:- rality of pockets, flexible article holding fingers dependingfrom the top of the pockets, the fingers having an article releaseposition, rubber tubes enclosing the fingers and depending from the top"of each of 'thepockets, means to bend the fingers to article holdingposition and to re lease them therefrom.

'18. A carriage for "a charge or articles, to hold articles and torelease them therefrom, partitions in the carriage dividing the carriageinto a plurality of aligned pocket-s, flexible articles holding fingersdepending from the top of the pockets, certain or the fingers being onone side of the pockets and being aligned with each other, the fingershaving an article release position, rubber tubes enclosing the fingersand depending from the top of each of th pockets, a rod extendingadjacent the aligned fingers on *one side of the pockets having meansthereon to bend thefingers to article hold-ing position and to releasethem therefrom, the rubber tubes having openings therein to admit -thefinger bending means.

'19. In an article packing machin for filling a celled container with acharge of 'artic'les, a

charge depositing mechanism comprising 'a carriage movable from uppercharge receiving to lower charge release position, a'plu-rality' ofpocle ets 'in the carriage mounted in rows and coluinns to correspond tothe cells of a container, said pockets comprising rectangular frameshaving at the tops thereof outwardly curved flanges forguiding articlesinto the pockets.

20. In an article packing machine for filling a cell case with a chargeof articles, a charge depositing mec han-ism'havinga plurality ofpockets therein and means for guiding articles vertica-Ily through saiddepositing mechanism to "a case comprising an open resilient hose ineach pocket attached at its upper periphery "to the edges of the pocket,the lower end or ea'ch hose being resiliently vertically 'fiute'd torestrain an article passing therethrough, the extreme lower end of theflutes 'being point-ed downwardly -toward the axis of the hose to fitinto the cell of a-case, the-flutes expanding upon the releaseoi anarticle through the pocket to =a case and then again contract-ing,

-"C. DAVTS.

References Cited in the dle of this patent UNITED "STATES PATENTS

